A good journalist lets readers know about potential conflicts of interest. Even though this isn’t something I like talking about, I need to touch on a potential bias I have in reviewing Ancient Aliens S05E05 “The Einstein Factor.” In this episode, the program informs viewers that human genius is attributable to alien intervention. I do not wish to come across as conceited, but I am one of those people who fall into the 99.9th percentile on standardized intelligence tests. I was a National Merit Scholar, finished in the 99.9th percentile on the SAT, was salutatorian of my high school class, and graduated at the top of my college class. I was repeatedly offered membership in MENSA (to which I always said I had no interest in paying to tell people I’m smart), and on standardized IQ tests (which I don’t put a lot of stock in, given their Western biases) I consistently score north of 165. This isn’t bragging—millions of people around the world have equal or better results—but (not that I compare myself to Einstein in any way) it does mean that I find it personally insulting to be told that all of this is the result of aliens tampering with my DNA. I imagine that would surprise my mother, too. So, let’s begin.

We’re back to the brown title card today, so last week’s blue one was apparently an anomaly. Could it be aliens? The program begins by discussing the observations that helped confirm Einstein’s theory of general relativity, and the program works to establish Einstein as a genius who revolutionized our understanding of the universe. We hear Giorgio Tsoukalos’s thoughts about what relativity was really about. Sadly, this does not include an understanding of what relativity really means. So far as the show is concerned, it’s just a mystical bit of mumbo-jumbo that’s all science-y and therefore equivalent to the magic wielded by the gods. A biographical sketch of Einstein follows, with the implication that Einstein’s inability to find a job after graduating with a physics degree suggests that his genius was not yet present. This leads the narrator to tell us that just before Einstein proposed relativity, he communicated with a “realm” beyond the human. The show suggests that Einstein's thought experiments—thinking about things really hard and trying to imagine the results of theoretical concepts—are equivalent to “altered states of consciousness” (meditation) and therefore evidence that he was really receiving psychic messages from aliens who live in another dimension. Let’s all repeat together: Imagination is not something that comes from aliens. We all, as humans, have imagination. Ironically, we are then asked to perform a thought experiment to understand how revolutionary Einstein’s theories were. No, the show fails to understand this is irony. David Childress tells us that Einstein had a “different kind of a brain” that was “wired in a different way than normal human beings.” Jason Martell tells us that Einstein did such proofs-positive of alien communication as “sitting in a chair for hours on end” thinking about things. Since Martell cannot imagine why anyone would think things through logically from beginning to end, he concludes that Einstein was “tapping into some advanced field of knowledge,” which he calls “technology.” The late Philip Coppens concurs, claiming that all geniuses channel their information from another dimension. Giorgio Tsoukalos suggests that “all the knowledge” in the universe lives in a metaphysical world that geniuses can access like radios, channeling information without having to understand it or having any responsibility for their own thoughts. While I am more than willing to agree that Giorgio Tsoukalos believes that he is incapable of original thought, I am less willing to allow for that possibility among all humans. We visit prepared slides of slices of Einstein’s brain at the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia for no particular purpose other than morbidity and to learn that Einstein’s brain suffered no neurodegeneration and was relatively healthy for a man of his age. This, of course, means that the aliens were involved since the show considers this “unique,” misunderstanding the limits of the original study of Einstein’s brain, which failed to control for neurological diseases and compared his brain to a sample of just 11 men, which is too small to make sweeping generalizations. The show fails to understand most of the research it describes, suggesting Einstein had a unique parietal lobe (involved in mathematical reasoning) because it was 15 percent wider than normal; however, the original study makes no claim that this is “unique,” nor that size is directly correlated to ability. The claim that Einstein had more glial cells than other men is similarly based on the same study of just 11 men, and the author of study admitted that the difference was not statistically significant, except in the parietal lobe. From this limited information, it is impossible to conclude that Einstein’s brain was a radio transmitter for aliens from another dimension, but the show goes for it anyway. “How could one person, in one year, create and write such important papers?” David Childress asks. “And his own colleagues had no ideas what he was talking about. The way Einstein thought was completely different than people before him.” Childress relies on the false syllogism “I don’t know; therefore, aliens.” Again, I’m willing to spot him his genuine belief that he himself is incapable of original thought, but humans invent new things every day, which must keep the aliens busy handing out such plums as the ideas for telegraphs, vaccines, personal computing, and Old Brooklyn Lanterns. Jason Martell wonders if Einstein was “evolving faster,” an impossibility given that individuals do not evolve (we are not Lamarckians) but rather populations evolve as the genome shifts across the population over time. So, Martell asks, could extraterrestrials have given him a gene transplant? Doc Barham, a California-based "transformation expert" and hypnotherapist of whom I have never heard, states boldly that any time you find a genius in human history, you must ask “is it possible that they are a little more than human?” From here we move outward to look at other geniuses in history and wonder whether they were also receiving messages from the aliens’ other dimension. The first of these is Socrates, who displayed such tell-tale signs of alien communication as “thinking.” Not just regular thinking, of course, deep thought that lasted several hours—a sheer impossibility for a regular human like Philip Coppens or Giorgio Tsoukalos! Coppens is correct that Socrates did claim to receive instructions from a daemon, or spirit, as is recorded by Xenophon (Memorable Thoughts of Socrates 1.1), but Socrates would be the first to tell you that taking this literally as an alien transmitting to his brain is a fool’s errand. Even Xenophon noted that it was no different than all the hundreds of others of his time who claimed to receive messages from the gods in everything from oracles to drug-based hallucinations. We then get the greatest hits of Western artists who attributed their masterworks to divine inspiration, suggesting that such things were alien messages from other worlds. Then we hear about Nicola Tesla (again!), who visualized inventions in his head before he built them. I can personally attest that this is not as difficult as the ancient astronaut people imagine. Tesla apparently believed in aliens, and we are intended to take this as proof that aliens exist because Tesla believed in them; yet unicorns and demons do not exist despite the vast numbers who once believed (and still believe) in them. Next, the show talks about Srinivasa Ramanujan, an Indian mathematician with no formal training, who created some creative mathematical formulae that have yet to be completely evaluated by mainstream mathematics. Because he claimed that he received inspiration from his family’s patron god, he must therefore have received his math from the aliens—who did an incomplete job of it, I guess, since some of his proofs proved false, though most were correct.From here we look at Hindu mythology—or what the show claims is Hindu myth—by having hypno-coach Doc Bartham tell us about the “Akashic Record,” the metaphysical realm of all knowledge, a library of all possible information. This is a complete lie since it is not ancient but was invented around 1900 by Theosophy, extrapolating from Hinduism’s Samkhya philosophy, which postulated a realm of pure consciousness akin to Plato’s metaphysical realm of pure form. Rudolph Steiner, originally of Theosophy but later of anthroposophy, wrote the book on it, The Akashic Records, in 1902 and claimed these records gave him insight into life in Lemuria, a continent that simply does not and could not exist. Let me repeat: The Akashic Record did not exist before Theosophy invented it almost entirely out of whole cloth. Philip Coppens and Jason Martell also seem confused about the fact that these records are completely not real, and they speculate about these records ridiculously. I refuse to dignify the show’s attempts to link Einstein to the Akashic Record via quantum entanglement. The realm is a Victorian fraud and therefore no explanation is needed. This fake metaphysical realm gives us warrant for assuming that there is a reality behind remote viewing, which Jason Martell tells us must be real because the government spent money on it. Insert your own government waste joke here. Martell thinks that our very atoms deliver knowledge from across the universe because all atoms and elements are “the same” across the universe. Whatever. This is quantum entanglement (which operates only at the quantum level) extrapolated without warrant to the macro level. A jarring and abrupt transition leads us to discussions of time travel and parallel universes, based on Einstein’s relativity, which, while interesting on their own merits, have nothing to do with ancient aliens. Wormholes are suggested as a way to “establish contact with extraterrestrials,” which makes me wonder what the hell the show has been about for the past five seasons. Wasn’t the whole point to prove we already were in contact with extraterrestrials? The narrator then speculates that Einstein secretly invented relativity to meet aliens. Philip Coppens reminds us that great ideas and inventions are not the result of hard work but rather direct communication from a “realm” that downloads information from the sky. Sorry, Philip; inspiration, as Thomas Edison said, is but 1% of the equation; there is intensely hard work and great labor involved in discovering new things, as anyone who has discovered something new can attest. Just because Jason Martell, David Childress, and Giorgio Tsoukalos have no interest in hard work or deep thought doesn’t mean no one on earth is capable of it. If there was ever a moment that demonstrates clearly the real damage Ancient Aliens does, it was this. The program brazenly told its viewers, among whom are many young people, that they will never make great discoveries, that hard work doesn’t matter, that they should simply sit back passively and accept whatever crumbs of knowledge “the aliens” choose to give them. Human ingenuity is a lie; we are mere marionettes dancing to an alien drum. I watched this show on DVR, so I wasn’t looking at the clock. I kept thinking it was going to end, but then they continued repeating the same two thoughts again and again and again, and I wondered if they were ever going to admit they did not have enough speculation to fill the hour and would just bring this sad mess to a close. Finally, after repeating for heaven knows how many times that “ancient astronaut theorists” don’t believe it’s possible to have original thoughts (and we all know their plagiarized, recycled books clearly demonstrate that), the show finally just stops.

"different kind of a brain”, David Childress knows exactly what he is talking about. He has the IQ of an ice scraper.Perhaps he should consider registering for disability, his entire existence is an experiment in artificial stupidity

Thank you again. I was offended at the beginning of the show as well. I really want to get a gig where I can get a show and not need a fact checker or evidence.

Reply

CKnapp

1/19/2013 04:23:31 pm

I had much the same problem with this episode, for much the same reason. I too scored similarly on all the same standardized tests you mention, and know that I'm not part of some grand alien agenda.

It seems like a personal assault on anyone smarter than the AA gang rather than a reasonable hypothesis, but it had to come eventually. After all, it's exactly what they've been saying all along, just transposed to more modern figures; that man, ancient or modern, is completely incapable of original thought and inspiration. Which, of course, only goes along with their argument that 'mainstream science' is wrong about everything- because mainstream scientists are often those very same 99.9th percentile.

Reply

JPAT1982

1/19/2013 07:38:54 pm

The Ancient Alien theorists forgot to mention Professor Einstein's many all too human mistakes like for example his initial miscalculation of the bending of light or his misunderstanding of quantum theory. Surely, the Ancient Astronauts/Gods gave Professor Einstein the wrong information.

Lastly, as for the so called "thought experiments", these hypothetical visualization of certain thoughts are the most ancient forms of mathematical proofs actually date back to pre-Euclidean mathematics. Ancient Astronaut Theorists seem to think that Einstein and other geniuses such as Nikola Tesla, Srinivasa Ramanujan were able to do thought experiments thanks to Ancient Aliens giving them advanced knowledge that humans would in no way be capable of ever hypothesizing or even discovering .
While I'm no Einstein nor Ramanujan, I engage in thought experiments on a daily basis. In layman's terms, it's simply harnessing the power of imagination or creativity. But yet according to Ancient Astronaut Theorists, imagination nor creativity does not exist because advanced knowledge was given to us from the Heavens by them for purposes that Ancient Astronaut Theorists will never adequately explain.

As for the episode, it was completely laughable! It was almost a rehash of the Leonardo Da Vinci episode from last season in which they seemed to suggest that Da Vinci was kidnapped for at least 13 years by Ancient Astronauts and given advanced knowledge which allowed him to create his many influential designs. Ancient Astronauts Theorists seem to misunderstand genius who all while possessing great intellect- seem to understand the power of hard work, persistence, imagination and creativity, making connections between seemingly unrelated subjects, as well as trial and error in testing their hypotheses. According to them, we Homo Sapiens were dumb until Ancient Aliens gave us the advanced knowledge we need to progress as a species.

Reply

Pranita

5/26/2013 04:12:10 pm

You make sense a lot; or must I say - completely!
So even if aliens exist and all the stuff about aliens giving some super intellect to the greatest men in history, I believe creativity & imagination & originality of thoughts still exist. Or how about the hypothesis that maybe it's us humans who've with evolution become something a little different than what we are like right now and with the invention of the Time Machine and finally having discovered most segments of the "M-Theory" have decided to play with their past?
I know it's a stupid hypothesis, perhaps, but what these people say about humans' incapability of invention is just as dumb! Or maybe dumber!!

Reply

Terence Tennis

1/20/2013 06:30:33 pm

I just watched this on DVR. You gave me more to think about than the show did.

Reply

Radio Controlled

1/21/2013 01:06:28 am

David Childress and Jason Martell make my blood boil.They present everything as fact(nothing they every say is btw) in books and this damn show. As for Giorgio "therebealiens"Tsoukalos I half except the Circus theme tune to start every time he opens his mouth,everyone knows he doesn't believe the stuff he spouts.

Einstein will be turning in his grave at this insulting poor excuse for a TV program.I would really like to see a TV series made from the great ancient aliens debunked movie.

thank goodness for people like you my friend.

Reply

Dave

1/21/2013 03:59:26 am

Ancient alien theorists are like religious fanatics, if you can't explain it then surely gods or aliens nust be involved.

Reply

Mark L

1/23/2013 12:23:41 am

This episode was bad, even for Ancient Aliens. I mean, they must look at something like this and be disgusted with themselves, on some level or other.

I made the same point as you watching this with my wife last night, re: the whole thought experiment thing. "Isn't thought experiment another way of saying you're just thinking about something really hard?" she said.

You did completely nail the central flaw with this, though. Coppens, Martell and Tsoukalos can't begin to imagine actually doing research, or going through the tedious process of learning actual facts, so they assume those people who can are otherworldly.

Reply

terry the censor

2/4/2013 07:30:10 pm

> “How could one person, in one year, create and write such important papers?”

This is the exact same problem creationists have when discussing complexity. They acknowledge numerous examples of complexity exist in nature but they insist it <i>can't,</i> therefore, cosmic artifacter.

Reply

Bob

2/15/2013 10:27:23 pm

Terry, I find it humorous when people like yourself lump everyone into the same mold.

I am a creationist and don't fit neatly into your generalized characterization.

It isn't complexity I have an issue with. It's the origin of information that evolutionists can't explain

Reply

terry the censor

2/18/2013 03:55:12 pm

> I find it humorous when people like yourself lump everyone into the same mold

Creationists -- in general -- do have the problem I describe. If you are the lone exception, excellent -- but that does not make the generalisation unsound.

Canadians love hockey. I am a Canadian who doesn't follow hockey. You could not therefore argue that Canadians do NOT love hockey. That is clearly silly.

But you do prove my broader point: creationists are not good at reasoning, they are only good at repeating baseless arguments they read at ID sites.

> It's the origin of information that evolutionists can't explain

See what I mean?

Reply

Log-in

9/8/2013 03:33:19 am

Sorry, but those "baseless arguments" are actually grounded on experiment and observations.
Scientific experiments serve as a basis for know-how, know-how serves as a basis for technological breakthroughs and technological breakthroughs help improve human existence. This is what foundations pay for when they issue us research grants (more or less).
OOL scenarios and evolution have to be practical and empirical. And this is what most of the research is not. In fact many peer-reviewed articles are no less different than Ancient Aliens. Observe something -> It could have evolved to do this based on the previous references and my own speculation
Try to falsify that claims. You just can't falsify evolution, just like you can't falsify ancient aliens playing with King Tut and kabooming Sodom and Gomorrah.
Research falls into two categories and I just hate the word science here. There is empirical research (medical research, chemistry, mathematics, many physics) and there is historical research.
The former deals with empirical observable mechanisms which are confirmed and employed to industrial purposes. The latter are used by advocacy groups to further their agendas (evolutionism, creationism, history, theology, forensics).
The first type of research deals with proof, that is an independent confirmation of the proposal by a neutral person, say for instance Newton's law of gravity been confirmed independently by anyone with an accelerometer. The latter deal use evidence, say fossils or historical data records in climate research.
In real research you don't insert the words could, might or may. Those are artifacts of a court, not a laboratory.

terry the censor

9/8/2013 03:58:48 pm

@Log-In

> You just can't falsify evolution

Not true.

In the very first edition of Origin of Species, Darwin constantly pointed out the weaknesses of his theory, most of which were resolved by later scientific breakthroughs (e.g. continental drift, DNA) and the unending stream of fossil discoveries.

In fact, chapter VI is titled "Difficulties on Theory." In that chapter, he makes this falsifiable statement: "The foregoing remarks lead me to say a few words on the protest lately made by some naturalists, against the utilitarian doctrine that every detail of structure has been produced for the good of its possessor. They believe that very many structures have been created for beauty in the eyes of man, or for mere variety. This doctrine, if true, would be absolutely fatal to my theory" (text at link or see page 227 of the Penguin edition).

Darwin also included tests such as this: "If numerous species, belonging to the same genera or families, have really started into life at once, the fact would be fatal to the theory of evolution through natural selection." (text at next link or page 309 in the Penguin edition).

Ok, for you SMART people.. There are millions upon Billions of galaxy's, solar systems and planets.. Yet its still hard for you to believe in any other existance but your own?? How SMART is that?? Blocks that wiegh Hundreds of TONS that we can't Budge today without atleast 20 Power Crane lifts?? Set in a pyramid setting from bottom to top??And you can rule out the slave theory. Because even if they were 20 ft. tall with super human powers, there is not a pinch of vegetation or water, or ANYTHING to feed any body of people to handle that task..The precision and skill in puma punku could not be achieved that many Thousands of years ago. Drawings of Aircraft on the inside of pyramids?? The knowledge of solar systems that they couldnt see Thousands of years ago,and WE Just found 200 years ago..Maps of the land uder the ice at the north and south poles ..Why should YOU be so gifted???Scores on a test???? I am no scientist by Any stretch of my imagination,but Dr. Hoover is. And he too has a bit to say about life Out There..So,give your Smart brain a chance. And stop Debunking your own intelligence..

Reply

e heen

12/12/2013 06:04:16 am

And thats to name a feww!!!!!

Reply

Thoughitout

1/1/2014 05:27:13 pm

Well I'm pretty sure the akashik record was illustrated in the Mahabharata, and I'm pretty sure that was written way befor 1902

Prove it. Alfred Percy Sinnett coined the term in Esoteric Buddhism, before which it did not exist. The Mahabharata makes no mention of a parallel plane of existence filled with all world knowledge.

Reply

Kraken

2/21/2014 09:25:49 am

Lol

Reply

Leslie

11/16/2014 09:07:35 am

I think what they are discussing is what Carl Jung called the, "Collective Unconscious". They also touched on, "Quantum Entanglement" which nobody has discussed here. Quantum Physics has made great strides specifically in Quantum Entanglement since this show first aired. I just watched it for the first time today. As far as Aliens - I think they're trying to fit a bunch of square pegs into a round holes.

Reply

James

6/17/2016 06:31:47 am

What IF it were true!!!!! The show is built apon the viewing of masses,
Intelegent but yet diversely limited!! This is why you/we are mostly alone.. Thinking about what I just said? The true intelegent don't have time to blog.

John David Best has his web site Vida İnstitute. He put my articles page in 'Timeflow Theory' 'http://vidainstitute.org/?page_id=656'. Vida Institute is intersting site. And my web site is www.timeflow.org

In your opinion, discovery of a planet is more exciting. Or, as I've presented in the attached article,
whether observing 'A very tiniest mass in the space, having completed its life, have been turning
into energy' would be more exciting or not ? It is my belief that, this observation will be the proof
of the General and the Special Theory of Relativity. This observation can be made only by NASA or
ESA. I hope that I will be able to see this consequence while I'm still alive. For further information,
please visit my web site www.timeflow.org . I will be indebted for your interest.

Reply

Leave a Reply.

Author

I'm an author and editor who has published on a range of topics, including archaeology, science, and horror fiction. There's more about me in the About Jason tab.